A beauty queen who received xenophobic abuse in South Africa and became the subject of a government investigation has revealed that she will be seeking therapy because of the saga.
Chidimma Adetshina, who was a finalist in the Miss South Africa beauty contest, sparked criticism as despite being a South African citizen, her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots.
She quit the contest last month, the day after the home affairs department announced that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to become a South African national.
Ms Adetshina was then invited to enter Miss Universe Nigeria, which she won, but said she had been “suppressing her emotions” throughout.
“It’s just not a nice feeling, I think I’ve been avoiding it a lot and only now has it started to cloud me. It’s something I will work on and see a therapist because I feel like I have been suppressing my emotions… Because what has happened… It wasn’t a minor thing, it was actually really major.”
Chidimma Adetshina
Ms Adetshina, who previously said she was born in the South African township of Soweto, noted she could not comment on the South African government’s ongoing investigation into her nationality, as it was a “legal matter”.
Despite having a difficult few weeks, the law student said becoming Miss Universe Nigeria was a “very powerful moment”.
“Even though it was a rough path for you, you really stepped up. I think I really give myself that title of a strong black African woman.”
Chidimma Adetshina
Although many Nigerians were pleased to see her triumph, some felt the way she had entered the competition was unfair to the other contestants.
Ms Adetshina only competed in the final stages of the competition, whereas the other contestants had waged a longer campaign.
“I do get where people are coming from, but at the end of the day I also had my own journey, I had my fair share of going through the process,” Ms Adetshina said.
“There might have been a slight difference, but I feel like I also went through the journey that they went through. I still see myself as proudly South African… I still see myself proudly Nigerian.”
Chidimma Adetshina
Nigeria’s newest beauty queen said she had extended her stay in the country of her father’s birth.
Having only visited as a young child 20 years ago, she plans to “get to know” more of Nigeria, then in November, she will be off to Mexico for the international Miss Universe competition.
As Nigeria’s representative, she will compete against beauty queens from across the world, including Mia le Roux, who won this year’s Miss South Africa contest.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s investigation into Ms Adetshina’s nationality continues.
Beauty Queen Shares Heartbreaking Experience
Nigerian-South African beauty queen, Chidimma Adetshina opened up about her painful experience of feeling unaccepted by South Africans during the Miss South Africa contest.
Adetshina, who was recently crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, highlighted the challenges she faced in South Africa due to her name and heritage.
“It all started because of my name; people were not happy that my name is Chdimma and I am representing South Africa, and that was where it really started. South Africans felt like I wasn’t South African enough because of my name and it was sad to see.
“It was a very heartbreaking and horrible experience, and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody because I have lived there for 23 years. It was heartbreaking to see that I wasn’t welcome or accepted.”Â
Chidimma Adetshina
“I don’t really want to talk about it,” she added in between tears, “it’s heartbreaking and there were things that happened behind the scenes that made me withdraw.”
The beauty queen expressed her sadness over having to withdraw from the competition despite being South African.
“It was heartbreaking that I had to withdraw so close to the finale but a decision had to be made. What I do know is that I was born in South Africa and I am a South African and I’m still proudly Nigerian as well.”Â
Chidimma Adetshina
This comes after Chidimma’s withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant following allegations by the South African Home Office of a prima facie case of fraud and identity theft by her mother.
At the time, she also faced severe backlash from South Africans when she was announced as a contestant for the Miss South Africa contest.
After her withdrawal, the Silverbird Group, which organized the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, extended an invitation to Chidimma, and she accepted and subsequently won.
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